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Here’s another nostalgic post for ya.

Ms. Carson was my grade 5th teacher back in Deer Run Elementary. One of the very few that I actually found enjoyable to be taught by. It was just recently that I heard she was retiring from her teaching profession. I’m not sure how long she’s been teaching for but it must be for a long time.

There’s quite a lot of memories I cherish coming from the fifth grade. It’s really rare for a former student to trace back their early years. I’m sure when you’re an elementary teacher, you ponder what your young students will become. And for the good majority, most don’t get to see how you turn out.

With Ms. Carson being my fifth grade teacher, those were good times. She was different from most teachers that I’ve had. Being the hyper active, attention grabbing, trickster that I was in the class, Ms. Carson understood me. Her kindness is the one thing I’ll never forget. She was patient with her students. She made learning fun. That’s saying a lot coming from me.

I had an issue with learning. No, I wasn’t mentally challenged or anything. If I didn’t like the subject being taught, my focus would waiver. There’s one subject that I hated all school years except for the fifth grade. That was math. I still hate math. But in grade 5, Ms. Carson was able to get me to enjoy math. Even to a point where I was ahead of the class in homework. I would be done several pages ahead in the textbook before the assignment was assigned. I still remember Ms. Carson sitting me down and explaining it all to me. That’s when she told me…

A genius tries, even when he’s wrong.

There was a time when Ms. Carson went through a rough time. Her house was on fire one late night in ‘97. Ms. Carson and her daughter managed to escape without any harm. But even after that tragic event, she didn’t allow that to get in her way of teaching.

Another thing that always bring a smile to my face is the times that Ms.Carson allowed me to play Commander Keen and Duke Nukem on the classroom computer. I would come in during lunch and spend my time blasting away alien scums. Ahh, good times, good times. Even back then I was into computers.

Ms. Carson’s kindness has yet to be matched. Even when I was feeling ill in the nurses office, she was kind enough to check up on me and even gave me a Kinder Surprise to ease my woes. She was very understanding when it comes any topic. You could always count on her for someone who would listen to what you had to say. May it be homework that your dog ate, or troubles at home, she understood you.

One funny moment I remember was when the 3 classes in the fifth grade got together in our classroom for the first rehearsal for our Christmas play - How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We were broken into groups to argue which lines we were going to take. So when it came for all the students to read out their lines in order, I came to say Little Sue’s line. Everyone, even Ms. Carson had an awkward look on their faces and for them to be surprised that I’ve chosen to speak as a little girl, it was an awkward moment. I even ended wearing Leah’s gown for the play.

It was probably the best school year I had. We shouldn’t forget these teachers who help build the foundations for our education in the beginning. Like I mentioned before, it’s rare to hear back from their students to see where they’re at in their lives. As we grow, that connection is sometimes forgotten. But it’s best if you can, remember those teachers, even the ones that gave you detention almost everyday

I wish Ms. Carson the best for her retirement, you truly were one amazing teacher. As I raise my glass - or rather my Coke can - to you, you’ll always be remembered by me with your kindness and inspiring ways of teaching.